Spear thistles in new ley

[Derrick Hughes]

If you are going to do them with a knapsack I would use grazon as it is far more potent than MCPA though I admit it is more expensive. But if you're spending the time to do them by hand I'd make it stick.

Charlock Docks , no Clover in grass seeds , was it Hurler and MCPA what was the rate ?

You mean a new ley?

Check the label for maximum doses but from memory I think I used to use around about 1L hurler and 2.5ishL of Polo on new leys. Small weeds from seed you don't need much more than a half dose of each.

Thanks yes, your a star

 

[Lazy Eric]

I've had the same trouble on a re-seeded 20 acre field. I sprayed the old grass with Thistlex, then Roundup, then disced it and drilled the grass seed. Thousands of boar thistles grew and not wanting to lose the clover, I've topped it twice. I too would like a spray that leaves the clover as I'm trying to use less fert.

I wonder where all these thistles come from, my previous grass didn't have any and this field has not been ploughed since the Crimean War (the 1853-1856 one) . Where did you buy the grass seed from? I'm suspicious that the thistles may come in the seed. (I bought my seed from a company beginning in A)

There in the seed bank in the soil, they will have been there for decades and a bit more. Just disturb them, bring them to the top, a bit of sunlight and moisture and away they go.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Mcpa mix half with 24d will kill spear thistle and leave the clover, I use it a lot and it’s very successful here all my lays have loads of clover in, only thing it checks (even sometimes for years) but does not fully seem to kill is creeping thistle just my experience of it.
There’s a special one for new lays which is mcpa, clover max or something that works ok, actually got that off farm market place on here!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Just done 12 acres by hand with a Spud, took a while though. Then came back with a quad sprayer.
Other way is graze hard and top short. My experience even with 24-D they come back and the Clover gets hit.

 

[Optimus]

We just sprayed a reseed for scotch thistles an docks.agronomist said he had a spray that he'd had good results with not killing clover .it's killed the scotch thistles, the docks curled over but look to be coming back.an I've not checked to see if the clover is still there.

 

[neilo]

Mcpa mix half with 24d will kill spear thistle and leave the clover, I use it a lot and it’s very successful here all my lays have loads of clover in, only thing it checks (even sometimes for years) but does not fully seem to kill is creeping thistle just my experience of it.
There’s a special one for new lays which is mcpa, clover max or something that works ok, actually got that off farm market place on here!

Headland Polo is MCPA + 2-4D. Do you use it at a low rate to leave the clover as it has always hammered it when I've used it on old pasture (kills rushes well though ).

Clovermax was MCPA + 2-4DB, and 2-4DB (also in Clovermaster and Spruce) has been withdrawn since 2020.

 

[Chev54]

Thanks for all responses.Looks like I’m going to have a thrilling couple of days with the weed wiper and thistlex.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Headland Polo is MCPA + 2-4D. Do you use it at a low rate to leave the clover as it has always hammered it when I've used it on old pasture (kills rushes well though ).

Clovermax was MCPA + 2-4DB, and 2-4DB (also in Clovermaster and Spruce) has been withdrawn since 2020.

Used some around 4/5 days ago, 50-50 mix of 2-4d and mcpa (3.5l ha total so half of each to get this), nettles butter cups creeping thistle all beginning to go black and die, clover still looks fine no signs of withering/dieing, i will keep and eye out for it though only time its got it somewhat was in new lays, but it did not kill it.

Ive never really paid a massive amount of attention to the clover i just know its always prolific in areas ive sprayed often so i know its not effecting it much if at all, will keep a close eye to see if it wilts and get some pics,

this is why im a little reluctant to use thistlex on creeping thistle as im told it will kill the clover.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Used some around 4/5 days ago, 50-50 mix of 2-4d and mcpa (3.5l ha total so half of each to get this), nettles butter cups creeping thistle all beginning to go black and die, clover still looks fine no signs of withering/dieing, i will keep and eye out for it though only time its got it somewhat was in new lays, but it did not kill it.

Ive never really paid a massive amount of attention to the clover i just know its always prolific in areas ive sprayed often so i know its not effecting it much if at all, will keep a close eye to see if it wilts and get some pics,

this is why im a little reluctant to use thistlex on creeping thistle as im told it will kill the clover.

Thistlex certainly kills clover!

 

[daithi]

I have similar problem with thistles in a reseed last year. I was thinking of applying some Forefront through the weed wiper. Just wondering at what strength to mix it at ?

 

[DrDunc]

I have similar problem with thistles in a reseed last year. I was thinking of applying some Forefront through the weed wiper. Just wondering at what strength to mix it at ?

I've always went with about 20:1 in the weed wiper

Any weaker and it takes a fair time for them to fall over in my experience

 

[davidroberts30]

I've always went with about 20:1 in the weed wiper

Any weaker and it takes a fair time for them to fall over in my experience

Jeepers that's strong for forefront
I use 50ml in 8l of water

 

[Northern territory]

I did 2.5 l/ha agritox straight mcpa last week and not touched clover, funny how it does creepers better than spear but they still look sick and are starting to curl a bit

 

[DrDunc]

Jeepers that's strong for forefront
I use 50ml in 8l of water

Ahh

Brain might have edited out forefront, and just read weed wiper before replying

 

[neilo]

Jeepers that's strong for forefront
I use 50ml in 8l of water

In a wiper? (theoretically of course, as nobody would use Forefront in a wiper).
I’m told PasTor worked well in a wiper at 1:20 last year.

 

[davidroberts30]

In a wiper? (theoretically of course, as nobody would use Forefront in a wiper).
I’m told PasTor worked well in a wiper at 1:20 last year.

Asking for a friend In a knack sprayer

 

[Kevtherev]

Anyone using Leystar?

 

[DrDunc]

Anyone using Leystar?

Was she in star wars?

 

[Y Fan Wen]

I have similar problem with thistles in a reseed last year. I was thinking of applying some Forefront through the weed wiper. Just wondering at what strength to mix it at ?

You need to check if forefront is ok thro' a wiper. AFAIK only glypho has the wiper ticket.

 

[neilo]

You need to check if forefront is ok thro' a wiper. AFAIK only glypho has the wiper ticket.

It wouldn't be legal to use anything but glyphosate, but we'll leave it there...